Vegan Chipotle Mushroom Tacos with Jicama Salad

Delicious plant-based, mushroom tacos, ready in minutes! Perfectly caramelized, chipotle-spiced mushrooms make a filling and satisfying vegan taco recipe. Top with a quick salad made from jicama, radish, and arugula, plus a few scoops of ripe avocado for a quick, easy and healthy dinner!

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I didn’t make these Vegan Chipotle Mushroom Tacos with vegans in mind. I made them because I have an unforgiving love affair with mushrooms.

My main goal was to stuff as many deeply caramelized, slightly spicy mushrooms into a tortilla, and so I did.The results turned out to be vegan! And DELICIOUS!

what kind of mushrooms to use

I used every mushroom I could find at my Trader Joe’s—which means FOUR kinds of mushrooms. But you could totally use just one variety, or two, whatever you want. Here’s what I suggest:

• Portobello Mushrooms. I just love the juicy, meaty flavor of these big mushrooms.
• Shitake Mushrooms. These might be a bit hard to find, depending on where you live, but they have great, chewy texture.
• White Button Mushrooms. Classic, tasty, and available everywhere.
• Crimini aka Baby Bella. These have a delicious, tight skin that crisp when cooked.

how to perfectly caramelize mushrooms

The secret to making these tacos taste incredible and not like a taco full of gummy worms is to cook the mushrooms in a way that deeply browns the outside and leaves them with crispy edges, while the insides stay juicy. Here’s a few pointers:

• Don’t rinse the mushrooms with water. Clean by wiping with a paper towel.
• Use the largest skillet you own. This is the one I use.
• Place the skillet over medium-high heat and add a generous amount of olive oil. Get it really smoking hot.
• Add just enough mushrooms to cover the pan and no more. Work in batches if you have to.
• Toss the mushrooms in the oil just to coat and then leave them alone.
• Let them cook, undisturbed, for 5 minutes. Then cook, stirring until tender and cooked through.
• DO NOT season them with salt until the very end.

other ingredients

Clearly the mushrooms are the star of the show here but let’s talk chipotle chili powder for a second.

If you don’t like things spicy, you can use a mild chili powder, like guajillo chili powder or ancho chili powder instead, but I would give the chipotle chili powder a try first. It has such a delightful, smoky flavor that really adds something special to this taco filling.

You can read more about chili powders and other Mexican ingredients in my Mexican Pantry Guide.

To top the tacos (because I always need something bright and crunchy) I made a quick slaw of julienned jicama and thinly sliced red onion tossed in lime juice, salt, and a little oil.

Don’t be freaked out by that fancy julienne term, just cut the jicama into small pieces so you can easily eat them.

I also sprinkled on a few thinly sliced radishes, some wild arugula, and a few wallops of avocado—I have a slight obsession with toppings.

These vegan chipotle mushroom tacos (if you don’t count the jicama slaw) have a grand total of four ingredients.

Well, five with the tortillas, but you get the picture. Very few ingredients because the combination of golden brown mushrooms and garlic needs very little.

variations

Want to add more veggies or take the spice in a different direction? Here are a few suggestions, but I want to encourage you to share with us any riffs you make on this recipe in the comments.

• Add bell peppers and onion. After the mushrooms are done cooking remove them from the pan, add a tablespoon more oil, then add the onion (sliced) and peppers. Cook until tender and starting to brown then add the peppers and cooked onions to the mushroom mixture.
• Put a few splashes of soy sauce in the pan at the end, for that extra umami kick. Of course, leave this out if you want to keep it gluten free.
• Shaved red cabbage would be great in the jicama salad for some extra crunch.

other vegan/vegetarian recipes to try!

• Deep Dish Black Bean Enchilada Casserole
• Fried Green Tomato Burritos
• Black Bean Pupusas
• Sweet Potato Nachos with Black Beans and Smoked Cheddar
• Spicy Cinnamon-Spiked Sweet Potato Tostadas
• Fried Plantain Cemita Sliders
• Green Chilaquiles with Fried Eggs

Healthy Dinner in a Flash!

If you make these Chipotle Mushroom Tacos, let me know how you like it! Share a photo and tag me on Instagram @holajalapeno and #holajalapeno or leave me a comment below!

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